Lost mountain walker unscathed
Monika Herhold, 50, an experienced mountaineer, had been missing since Wednesdsy evening.
A garda at Mayo’s Westport Station, which was leading the search, said: “She made her own way down, and she was fine and talking to everyone.
“She just came out of the mist on the mountain and she was seen walking down with a blue anorak on her.”
The Mayo Mountain Rescue Team and gardai were alerted at around 7pm on Wednesday after she failed to return from her walk on the mountain.
The 25-strong search team made contact with her by mobile phone but had failed to pinpoint her exact location.
The garda said: “All systems were go looking for her but she was a very experienced hill-walker. Some of the locals there weren’t in any doubt that she’d be fine.”
Shane Maguire of the rescue team said the searchers were tired after the overnight hunt but were delighted with the happy ending.
Ms Herhold said she did not want to go to hospital, and simply wanted a bath, as she walked off the mountain around 1pm.
Conditions on the mountain, described as ‘atrocious’, hampered the search mission, as the Shannon-based rescue helicopter could not take part.
Mr Maguire said the experienced hill-walker did all the right things, she stayed calm, warm and did not panic.
